Electrical system for motor vehicles



Nov. 30, 1943. H, F. MITCHELL 2,335,525

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES med sept. 16, 1941 a 6fnil 4 fa miEn ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHI CLES

Harry F. Mitchell, Salem, Ohio .Application September 16, 1941, SerialNo. 411,088

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements instorage batteries used for starting, lighting and signaling systems ofautomobiles.

Primarily the invention seeks to provide a single self-contained unitcomprising two batteries of the same voltage (say six volts) and amagnetic switch by means of which the two batteries may be placed,normally, in parallel to operate as a six-volt battery, and by means ofwhich the two batteries may be placed in series to act as a twelve-voltbattery.

Further, it is an object to provide a magnetic switch operated by a pushbutton or equivalent and so connected with the positive and negativeterminals of the two batteries that the lights, radio, etc., never getmore than six volts, regardless of whether the two batteries are inparallel or in series.

Further, the invention has for an object to provide in a singleYself-contained unit a two-section battery and a switch device by meansof which the starting motor may be caused to turn at two speeds, onespeed with the magnetically operated switch in the parallel position andthe other speed with the switch in the series" position.

Further, it is an object to provide in a single self-contained unit atwo section battery and switch device by means of which the signal hornof the vehicle may be caused to operate under either of the twovoltages, thereby giving a twotone eiect to the horn.

Again, it is an object of my invention to provide a two-speed startingbattery and seriesparallel switch unit, so constructed that it may besubstituted for the usual six-volt batteries on old cars (i. e., not atthe factory) without doing away with the present starting switch, thenew equipment requiring only two #l2 wires running from the batterytothe dash and a single holemounted push-button switch.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed outhereinafter,

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention stillfurther resides in the novel details of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, al1 of which will be first fully described in thefollowing detailed description, and then be particularly pointed out inthe appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a unit of two batteries and switchembodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same taken substantially on the line2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of another arrangement of the cells and switch.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged edge view of the magnetic switch.

Fig. 5 is a section on 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross section line 5 6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram of the electrical system of an automobileembodying my invention.

In the drawing, in which like numbers and letters of reference indicatelike parts in all the iigures, it will be seen that the combined batteryis composed of two sections or sub-units of three cells each. Each cellcomprises a jar I having a seat 2 for a lead cover 3 which is held inplace on the seat 2 by the sealing material 6. The cover 3 is providedwith a threaded ller hole l and is welded at 5 to the terminal post II.

Resting on the bottom 'l of the jar I are the usual wooden or hardrubber plate supports 3 on which the lead plates 9 and the usual woodenseparators I0 rest.

II and l2 designate the usual terminal posts, the (negative or,preferably, positive) ones I2 of which pass through insulating tubes(preferably rubber) I3, while the (positive or, preferably, negative)terminal posts Il are welded at 5 to the cover 3 where they pass throughthe cover. Alti/ent cap Il is provided in the cover 3 of each ce Thecase I5 consists of a sheet of metal that extends around the groups ofcells and has its ends spaced apart at the place where the magneticswitch is located (side or end of battery). The lower end of the case I5is inwardly flanged, as at I8, to hold the bottom plate Il of the case.The case IS-IS and its bottom plate Il are preferably painted with anacid-proof insulating valut. c

The magnetic switch, which constitutes an essential part of myinvention, is best shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, by reference to which itwill be seen that a closed iron frame 29 carries terminals I8, 20, 22and 24 insulated at 51, the terminal Il having a contact lug31, theterminal 22 having a double contact lug 38, the terminal 2l having abracket 30 with shims or washers 3l for adjustment, and the terminal 24having a bracket 33.

The brackets 30 and 38 have, preferably, integrally cast bearing studs32 and 4I) respectively, the free ends of which are split to receive anend of a coil spring 33, 4I, as the case may be,

approximately the line on substantially the [the other end oi thesprings being hooked under upperfcontact lug 3E against lug 3l andblade' contact lug iliagainst the lower contact lug 3,3. The blades'arecaused `to move inunison by message i Operation Assume the parts to bepositioned as shown in Fig. i. To start the engine at normaltemperameans of a connectionwhichcomprisesl a. split member [it pinnedat i'to the iilariej` and having a threaded stud 45 which is coupledtoand spaced from the vthreaded stud d3 of a yokei by means of aninsulation coupling 4S. The blade I 42 passes freely through the yoke 41and. the yoke'z, l

41 has a second threaded stud 48 which is insulated from but coupled tothe threaded'stud 5I? of the flat core armature 5I (steel or othersuitable magnetic material) by the insulating coupling 49.

The core armature 5I works in a stationary tube 52 of brass on which iswound the magnet wire 53 one end of which runs, as at 55, to and issoldered to the lug 38, while the other end runs, as at 56, to and issecured to the insulated terminal 28. The tube 52 ts in and is supportedby the cross bar 54 of the frame 29. Another insulated terminal 21 isconnected by wire 58 to the lug 38.

The frame 29 sets against the side (Figs. 1 and 2) or end (Fig. 3) ofthe case I5 and is held in place by wooden spacers 59 and the removablecover plate 6I, the latter being secured by screws 62 which pass throughthe case plate I5 near its adjacent ends and into the blocks or spacers59 (see Fig. 1).

The several cells may be arranged in any convenient way in the case I5,for example, side by side as in Fig. 1, or in two series, edge for edge,as in Fig. 3. For convenience I prefer thel arrangement shown in Fig. 1.In this iigure, I9 represents a conductor strap or lead-copper connectorbetween the terminal I8 and the lead cover 3 of the inner end cell ofthe first battery unit. A conductor strap 26 is attached to the negativeterminal II of that same cell, which terminal, as before stated, iswelded to the cover 3.

2l is the conductor strap or connector between the terminal and thecover 3 (and consequently the negative terminal II) of the inner endcell of the second battery unit.

23 represents the conductor strap or connector between the terminal 22and the positive terminal I2 of the other end cell of the first battery,while Y 25 indicates the conductor strap between the positive terminalI2 of the other end cell4 of the second battery and terminal 24.

In Fig. '1, L represents the lights of the system, L. S. the lightswitch, S. P. the spark plugs, D the distributor, C the ignition coil,I. S. the ignition switch, F the fuses, A the ammeter, G the generator,C. U. the generator cut-out, S. S. the usual starter switch, M thestarter motor, all of the usual construction.

P. B. S. indicates a push-button switch which, unless pressed, maintainsopen circuit. 12 volts does not do any harm to the starting motor, butcauses it to start the car motor much more quickly in all kinds ofweather, thus giving the car a much quicker get-away. l

The horn H has one terminal grounded, as indicated in Fig. 7, and isconnected through a switch H. S. with the positive terminal of thesecond battery'.

' now on six volts (batteries in parallel).

tures, simply close ignition switch I. S. and press on starter button S.S. Current now ows from terminals i2 o both. batteries ist B and 2nd Bvria connectors 2S, 25 and magnetic switch to ammeter A, and from thenceto coil D via I. S. and C-also to motor M from hatry-which starts themotor, whereupon switch S. S. is released and the starter motors circuitopened.

if sub-aero weather he encountered. then to start the engine one holdsthe push button of switch P. B. S. in and then presses starr switch S.S; Closing switch P. B. S. causes magnet 53 to become energized whichthen pulls down corearmature 5i and biades i2 and 35, thereby openingthe contacts-'33, l and 31, 35 and closing contacts 35, 38. Therefore`Wirren switch S. S. is closed, current will ow from terminal E2 of thesecond battery through starting motor M to ground and return via 2 6 vtonegative terminal II of the first battery, through the rst battery topositive terminal i2 thereof and from. thence via 23 to terminal 22,across contacts 38, 35 and blade 35 to terminal 23 and from thence via2l to negative terminal II of the second battery. thereby applyingdouble voltageto the starter. With switch P. B. S. closed, the single (6v.) voltage current also passes from contact 38 via terminal 21, ammeterA, to switch I. S., etc., and spark plugs. With button P. B. S. closed,current from the iirst battery only will iiow, via ammeter A, to thelighting switch L. S. at six volts. With switch P. B. S. closed andswitch H. S. closed, the hornV will operate on twelve-volt current, butafter the switch P. B. S. is opened again the horn will operate only onthe six-volt current.

After starting the engine, switch P B. S. is released and the partsreturn to the posiiion shown in Fig. 1. With the engine running fastenough for battery charging purposes, current will ow from generator G.via C. U. and A to terminal 21 and from thence via 58 to contacts 38-38where it divides, one part :Ilowing via blade 42 and connector 25 to thepositive terminal I2 of the second battery and the other part via 23 tothe positive terminal I2 of the iirst battery. The two negativeterminals II of the batteries, being now connected together via I9, I8,31, 35, 29, 2l, are grounded via 26. Thus the normal charging voltagesto each battery is maintained and both batteries are charged at the samevoltage. The lighting and ignition circuits are Batteries charged inparallel will equalize their charge. By having two extra plates in eachcell of the iirst battery it will have an advantage of higher voltage tooperate the ignition while the car motor is being started in sexies, andas the magnet and ignition current is taken from the :drst battery(while starting in series), causing 1, A battery comprising ya pluralityof groups assunse of equi-number cells and a series-parallel switchingapparatus, said switching apparatus having means connecting said groupsnormally in parallel and having manually controllable means forconnecting the groups in series, said groups comprising two groups ofthree two volt cells each, the cells of a group being permanentlyconnected in series and said switching device comprising a frame havingfour main terminals insulated from said frame, the iirst of said mainterminals being connected to the negative terminal of the iirst cellgroup, the second of said main terminals being connected to the negativeterminal of the second cell group, the third of said main terminalsbeing connected to the positive terminal of the first cell group and thefourth of said main terminals being connected to the positive terminalof the second cell group, a blade pivoted to the second main terminaland having a double contact to cooperate with either the iirst or thethird main terminal at a time, a second blade pivoted to the fourth mainterminal and having a contact to cooperate with the third terminal only.means continuously tending to keep said iirst blades contact inelectrical connection with said iirst main terminal and said secondblade's contact in electrical connection with said third main terminal,and electro-magnetic means to rock said blades to open the saidelectrical connections and make an electrical connection between saidrst blade's contact and said third main terminal. u

2. In an electrical system for a"motor vehicle wherein is provided agenerator, a lighting circuit, an ignition circuit, a starting motorcircuit containing a starting switch and a starting motor; thecombination with the aforesaid structure of a battery composed of twounits of like potentials, and a manuallyA controlled electromagneticallyactuated switching apparatus which includes -three fixed contacts, twoci.' which are electrically connected together and to the ignition andgenerator circuits and to the positive pole of one battery unit, thethird of said xed contacts being electrically connected to the negativeterminal of said one battery unit and to ground, said switch apparatusalso including two movable contacts, one of which is constructed tocooperate alternately with said third ilxed contact and'with one of thetwo fixed contacts that are connected together, an electrical connectionbetween the first mentioned of said two movable contacts and thenegative pole of the second battery unit. the second of the said movablecontact members being connected with the positive terminal of the secondbattery unit, which-terminal is also connected in the starting motorcircuit, said switching apparatus also including a solenoidal magnet,one terminal of which is connected to the generator circuit and to saidconnected-together iixed contacts and the other terminal or which isgrounded via a manually operated circuit closer.

3. In an electrical system for a motor vehicle wherein is provided agenerator, a lighting circuit, an ignition circuit, a signal horncircuit, a starting motorv circuit containing a starting I switch and astarting motor; the combination with the aforesaid structure of abattery composed of two units of like potentials, and a manuallycontrolled electromagnetically actuated switching apparatus whichincludes three fixed contacts, two of which are electrically connectedtogether and to the ignition, lighting and generator circuits and tothepositive pole of 'one 5 battery unit, the third of said fixed contactsbeing electrically connected to the negative terminal of said onebattery unit and to ground, said switch apparatus also including twomovable contacts, one of which is constructed to cooperate l0alternately with said third fixed contact and with one of the two fixedcontacts that are connected together, an electrical connection betweenthe first mentioned of said two movable contacts and the negative poleof the second battery unit.'

the second of the said movable contact members being connected with thepositive terminal of the second battery unit, which terminal is alsoconnected in the starting motor circuit and to the signal horn circuit,said switching apparatus also including a solenoidal magnet, oneterminal of which is connected to the generator circuit and to saidconnected-together iixed contacts and the other terminal of which isgrounded via a manually operated circuit closer.

4. In an electrical system for motor vehicles, a generator, a lightingcircuit, an ignition circuit,

a starting motor circuit, a signal circuit, a battery composed of twodistinct units each having a positive pole and a negative pole, oneterminal of said lighting circuit being grounded and the other terminalthereof being electrically connected to the positive terminal oi' one ofsaid units, one terminal of said signal circuit being electricallyconnected to the positive terminal of the second of said battery unitsand the other terminal of said signal circuit being grounded, and amanually controlled electromagnetically actuated switching apparatuswhich includes three iixed contacts, two of which are electrically 40connected together and to the ignition, lighting and generator circuitsand to the positive pole of one battery unit, the third of said fixedcontacts being electrically connected to the negative terminal of saidone battery unit and to ground, said switch apparatus also including twomovable contacts, one of which is constructed to cooperate alternatelywith said third xed contact and with one of the two fixed contacts thatare connected together, an electrical connection between the rstmentioned of said two movable contacts and the negative pole of thesecond battery unit, the second of the said movable contact membersbeing connected with the positive terminal of the second battery unit,which terminal is also connected in the starting motor circuit and tothe signal circuit, said switching apparatus also including a solenoidalmagnet, one terminal of which is connected to the generator circuit andto said connected-together xed contacts and co the other terminal ofwhich is grounded via a manually operated circuit closer, by virtue ofall of which the charging of the battery is effected with the units inparallel and the lights receive only the voltage of a single batteryunit regardless of the position of the switching apparatus, and the horncircuit receives either the voltage of a single battery unit or thecombined voltage of both battery units accordingly as said switchingapparatus is in one position or the other.

HARRY F. MITCHELL.

